Improvement in gages for clapboards



UNTTEE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

STEPHEN INMAN, OF ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS.

|MPROVEMENT IN cAci-:s Fon cLAPBoARDs.

Speciiication forming part of Letters Patent No. 33,199, dated September3,1861.

T0 @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, STEPHEN INMAN, of Rockford, in the county ofIVinnebago and State of Illinois, have invented certain new andusefulImprovements in a Combined Siding I'Iook and Gage; and I dohereloydeclare that the following is a full and complete description of theconstruction and operation of the same, reference being had to theaccompanyin g d rawings` makin ga part of this speciiication, in which-Figure l represents a side view of a combined siding hook and gage asused in actual operation. Fig. 2 is a front view of the same.

Like letters refer to like parts in the diiferent views.

My improvement relates to a siding hook and gage so arranged as tocombine in one and to answer the purpose of a square, siding-hook,challline, Compasses, and set-nails used in siding up buildings.

In Fig. l, E is a shank, to the upper part of which is secured the wedgeor lip F, that is forced up between two pieces of siding to hold t-hehook in place. On'the outside of this shank is secured by means of thethumbscreW J the slider or standard H, that forms a rest- K on the topand terminates in the piece L, to which is jointed the gage M. To theinside of the piece L is attached the spring N, designed to hold thesiding in place while itis being nailed to the studding.

In practical operation the wedge or lip F is forced up between twopieces of sidingas,

for instance, between B and C--nailed to the studding A, as shown inFig. l.

G is a cross-piece secured to the top of the shank E, and fits closelyto the lower edge of the siding C, which answers the purpose of a squareand brings the standard II and gage M at right angles to the siding. Theedges of the siding-pieces are all parallel, and the by the rests, iskept accurately in place until it can be nailed to the studding. Thesprings N also prevent it from falling or getting out of place by theblowing ot' the wind or if it is agitated in any other way.

If the siding is too long and it is desired to saw it od at the cornersor anywhere else, liftthe gage M from its position in Fig. l to theplace indicated by the dotted lines, and, as represented in Fig. 2, thetimber can then be scribed and the gage let fall back to its place, whenthe siding can be sawed oft', as it is so well supported by the rests.

Some of the hooks need have only a piece G, projecting on one side, asthat will be sufticient to give the hook a vertical position, and thenit will not come in Contact with the casings of Windows and doors. Thepiece G can be dispensed with entirely when desired.

E at the lower end of the shank is a handle or projection for thepurpose of easily removing the hook from its hold in the siding.

In the way siding is usually put on, compasses have to be used tomeasure the distance and then setsnails driven in, which consumes muchtime and mars the siding with the holes after the nails are withdrawn,and does not insure as much accuracy of measurement as where two or moreof these hooks are used, if they are adjusted and placed in the sidingjust alike. can be made in this way with the gage, and with much lesstrouble than in the ordinary Way.

It usually requires two men to put on siding when the wind is blowing;but with this arrangement only one is required, for the springs N keepthe siding in place.

I do not claim the construction of a metallic siding-hook, for I amaware that this has been done before; but

Nhat I do claim as my improvement, and for which I desire to obtainLetters Patent of the United States, is-

The piece G, when connected with a sidinghook inthe manner and for thepurpose specified, in combination with the gage M, constructed,arranged, and operating in the :manner and for the purpose set forth.

STEPHEN INMAN. Witnesses:

W. H. BURRIDGE, HENRY VoTH.

A more perfect joint-

